Reaction Rates

What you can expect to learn from this page:

Students will be able to learn the rate at which a candle burns.

Background Summary:

There are slow reactions and fast reactions.

Metal rusting is a slow reaction.

Fire burning is a fast reaction.

A reaction rate is how fast a reaction takes place The decrease of concentration causes a slower reaction. The increase of products causes a faster reaction. Concentrations makes the collisions happen more frequently. And orientation makes the collisions more effective. When there are more collisions there is a higher chance that a reaction will take place.

Lesson:

Part 1

1. Gather a small piece of clay and place it to the bottom of the candle for it to stand on its own.
2. Weigh the candle with the clay in grams and record the weight.
3. Light the candle and let it stand for 5 minutes.
4. Weigh the candle again after it has been lit

Where does the wax go after it is burned?

A. The wax stays in a liquid form on the candle.

B. The wax goes into the air as water and carbon monoxide.

C. The wax goes into the air as water and carbon dioxide.

D. None of the above.

Explaination: The compound for a candle burning is:

CNH2N+2 + O2 --> CO2+H2O

The candle burns the wax into carbon dioxide and water vapor and is released into the air.

Part 2

1. Get a second candle and place the piece of clay to the bottom of it.
2. Weight the second candle.
3. Light the second candle and place the glass container over it and let it stand for five minutes.
4. Weight the second candle again after it had been lit.

How does less air affect the way the candle is burned?

A. The candle burns slower.

B. The candle burns faster.

C. The candle burns at the same rate.

D. None of the above.

Explaination: Fire needs air in order for it to burn. When there is less air, the flame will burn slowly and will eventually stop burning.

 

 

 

 

Homework (if any):

Create a PowerPoint of the lab experiment you completed. The slides should consist of: materials used, the procedure, the data you collected in the form of a table and the difference in the two weights, any mistakes that occurred, and how their results could be more accurate.